Ugandan billionaire Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has once again emphasized that private enterprise must play a leading role in advancing regional economic integration. This came as he welcomed a senior delegation from Heritage Times Africa, ahead of the upcoming East African Trade and Digital Summit that Uganda is preparing to host later this year.
The visiting team, headed by Heritage Times Africa’s Chairman and CEO, Moses Siloko Siasia, sat down with Dr. Ruparelia to explore Uganda’s current investment climate, new prospects within the oil and gas sector, and ways to boost trade and investment ties across the East African Community (EAC).
Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Ruparelia Group, one of East Africa’s biggest privately held business empires, Dr. Ruparelia stressed how vital private capital is to fueling economic expansion, building infrastructure, and improving regional links.
Much of the conversation centered on how companies could tap into East Africa’s growing economic potential, whether through cross-border investment, giving local firms a stake in major infrastructure ventures, or adopting digital tools and innovation.
He also drew on the Group’s broad portfolio, spanning hospitality, real estate, education, and financial services, industries that have long fueled Uganda’s economic progress and helped establish the country as a magnet for foreign investors.
Attention also turned to how Uganda’s private sector can position itself for the surge in economic activity anticipated from the nation’s developing oil and gas industry. Both sides agreed on the need to open doors for local enterprises while reinforcing regional supply and value chains.
Other topics on the table included boosting cross-border investment flows, speeding up digital transformation throughout East Africa, and deepening cooperation between public institutions and private businesses to drive lasting, sustainable growth.
Following this, the Heritage Times team held a separate meeting with businessman Hajji Hamis Kiggundu, covering similar ground on Uganda’s investment climate and regional trade prospects.
These private-sector engagements were part of a wider itinerary that also included talks with top government officials. Earlier in the visit, the delegation met with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, who reaffirmed the government’s dedication to making the East African Trade and Digital Summit a success.
The summit itself is set to draw policymakers, investors, corporate leaders, and tech innovators from across the region, all aiming to explore avenues for closer economic partnership, greater investment flows, and digital integration within the EAC.
As figures like Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia continue to help shape the region’s investment dialogue, Uganda is reinforcing its standing as a prime hub for regional trade, private-sector expansion, and long-term economic transformation.
